External device indicating that a tank is filled up

ABSTRACT

System for indicating when a tank is full. The system includes a signal and control box. A container is connected to the tank. The container has a base, a float, an upper portion, and a lower portion. An orifice is arranged at the upper portion of the container. The float has an electrical contact connected to the signal and control box. The base of the container is arranged one of above a maximum filling level of the tank and substantially at the same level as the maximum filling level of the tank. A communication conduit is connected to each of the base of the container and an area of the tank which is in proximity to an upper portion of the tank. The system generates at least one warning signal after the tank is completely filled and when the container is partially filled by the communication conduit. This Abstract is not intended to define the invention disclosed in the specification, nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Stage Application of InternationalPatent Application No. PCT/FR01/03230 filed Oct. 18, 2001 whichpublished as WO 02/033360 on Apr. 25, 2002, and claims priority ofFrench Patent Application No. 00/13358 filed Oct. 19, 2000.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to an external device indicating that a tank isfilled up, in particular, but not exclusively, a fuel tank for boats.

2. Discussion of Background Information

A fuel tank for boats comprises an air intake conduit that isadditionally used as an overflow indicator, the user usually beingwarned of a full tank through a discharge of the fuel in the water,through said conduit.

This process gives rise to many drawbacks, particularly water pollution,a soiling of the boat, vapors originating from the fuel and the waste ofthe latter.

A similar drawback is found in fuel oil tanks for boilers. In this case,the risks of pollution are on the inside or on the outside of thebuildings where said tanks are located.

The position and structure of the fuel tank in a boat, or of a tank fora boiler, as well as the filling methods, do not allow providing a tankof the type of a motor vehicle with a check valve incorporated into thefilling pump and activated by the backflow of fuel, the degassingoccurring through the filling tube itself.

Systems that are rather complex have nonetheless been envisioned which,in addition to being expensive, have the drawback that it is difficult,even impossible, to adapt such systems to existing tanks.

That is why the Inventor has researched and designed a simple and easilyadaptable device that allows avoiding the aforementioned drawbacks.

An apparatus for warning of a tank overflow is already known from thedocument GB-2 339 909 A, in this case, a WC cistern, said apparatuscomprising a housing that is connected to said cistern and that isprovided at its upper part with an inlet, and at its lower part with afloat. This known apparatus is adapted for a specific use that requiresa certain positioning and that necessitates an emptying with eachoperation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

On the contrary, the device according to the invention that comprises,as in the aforementioned device, a container that is connected to thetank and that is provided at its upper portion with a vent, and at itslower portion with a float, and is characterized in that the bottom ofsaid container is arranged above, or substantially at the same level as,the maximum filling level of the tank. The container is connected at itsbase to the vicinity of the upper portion of the tank by way of acommunication conduit, while the float has an electrical contactconnected to a signal and control box arranged in the vicinity of theorifice of a filling conduit of the tank, in order to generate at leastone warning signal when said container is partially filled by thecommunication conduit after the complete filling of the tank.

According to one embodiment, the electrical contact of the float is in aclosed electrical circuit position when said float is not biased, and inan open electrical circuit position as soon as the float is lifted.

As already mentioned, the invention is adapted, in particular, to equipa tank provided with an air intake conduit such as, for example, a fueloil tank or a boat fuel tank and, in this case, the container isinserted between two portions of said air intake conduit, an upstreamportion that is used as a conduit for communicating with the tank, and adownstream portion that is connected to the vent of the container,respectively.

Even more particularly in the case of a boat fuel tank, the downstreamportion of the air intake conduit connects the vent of the container toa vent provided in the boat hull.

The invention also provides for a system for indicating when a tank isfull, wherein the system comprises a signal and control box and acontainer connected to the tank. The container comprises a base, afloat, an upper portion, and a lower portion. An orifice is arranged atthe upper portion of the container. The float comprises an electricalcontact connected to the signal and control box. The base of thecontainer is arranged one of above a maximum filling level of the tankand substantially at the same level as the maximum filling level of thetank. A communication conduit is connected to the base of the containerand in proximity to an upper portion of the tank. The system generatesat least one warning signal when the tank is completely filled and thecontainer is partially filled through the communication conduit.

The signal and control box may be arranged in proximity to an orifice ofa filling conduit coupled to the tank. The float may be arranged withinthe container. The float may be arranged at a lower portion of thecontainer. The electrical contact of the float may close an electricalcircuit when the float is not biased and open an electrical circuit assoon as the float is lifted. The float may be movable between a firstposition wherein the electrical contact of the float closes anelectrical circuit to a second position wherein the float opens anelectrical circuit. The system may further comprise an air intakeconduit. The container may be arranged between the air intake conduitand the communication conduit. The container may be connected to each ofthe air intake conduit and the communication conduit. The air intakeconduit may be connected to the upper portion of the container. The airintake conduit may be connected to the orifice of the container. Thesystem may be adapted to be arranged on a boat. The system may furthercomprise a vent connected to an air intake conduit, wherein the airintake conduit is connected to the container and the vent is arranged ona hull of the boat. The system may further comprise a vent connected toan air intake conduit, wherein the air intake conduit is connected tothe container.

The invention also provides for a system which generates at least onewarning signal after a tank is completely filled and when a container ispartially filled, wherein the system comprises a signal and control box,a float arranged within the container and comprising an electricalcontact connected to the signal and control box, a base portion of thecontainer being arranged one of above a maximum filling level of thetank and substantially at the same level as a maximum filling level ofthe tank, and a conduit having one end connected to the container andanother end connected to the tank, wherein the container is at leastpartially filled through the conduit after the tank is completelyfilled.

The float may be movable between a first position wherein the electricalcontact of the float closes an electrical circuit to a second positionwherein the float opens an electrical circuit. The system may furthercomprise an air intake conduit. The container may be connected to eachof the air intake conduit and the conduit. The system may be adapted tobe arranged on a boat. The system may further comprise a vent connectedto an air intake conduit, wherein the air intake conduit is connected tothe container and the vent is arranged on a hull of the boat.

The invention also provides for a system which generates at least onewarning signal when a tank is completely filled and a container, coupledto the tank, is at least partially filled, wherein the system comprisesa signal and control box, a float arranged within the container andcomprising an electrical contact connected to the signal and controlbox, a base portion of the container being arranged one of above amaximum filling level of the tank and substantially at the same level asa maximum filling level of the tank, a first conduit having one endconnected to the container and another end connected to the tank, and asecond conduit having one end connected to the container and another endconnected to a vent.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood from reading the followingdescription with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically shows a device according to the invention equippinga boat;

FIG. 2 schematically shows the container of a device according to theinvention; and

FIG. 3 is an electrical diagram of the signal and control box of thedevice according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

In FIG. 1, one can see a portion of the hull 1 of a boat which isconventionally provided with a fuel tank 2 equipped with a fillingconduit 3, and with an air intake conduit that is here made of two parts4 a, 4 b for the reasons specified hereinbelow.

As seen clearly in FIG. 1, the filling conduit 3 opens out on the deck 5of the boat, and it is provided at its end with a tank cap 6.

The air intake conduit 4 a, 4 b is connected, as it will be specifiedhereinbelow, to the upper portion of the tank, and opens out to theexterior through a vent 7 provided in the upper portion of the hull 1 ofthe boat.

The fuel, usually gas oil, is poured into the tank 2 through the fillingconduit 3.

In order to fill up the tank with a conventional device that is notequipped according to the invention and in which the air intake conduitis made in one piece, filling is done until the fuel escapes through thevent 7, with all of the drawbacks mentioned hereinabove.

The device according to the invention provides a container 8 that isinserted, as shown in FIG. 1, between the so-called upstream 4 a anddownstream 4 b portions, respectively, of the air intake conduit.

The container 8 is arranged above the tank 2 to which it is connected bysaid upstream portion 4 a that connects the upper portion of said tank 2to an orifice 9 (FIG. 2) provided in the lower portion of the container8.

As shown in FIG. 2, the container 8 is further provided at its upperportion with an orifice 10 adapted to receive the downstream portion 4 bof the air intake conduit.

Since the portion 4 b of the conduit is connected to the vent 7 of theboat, it is understood that for other applications, generally speaking,the orifice 10 of the container could directly constitute a vent,without requiring an intermediary conduit arranged between the elements7 and 10.

The container 8, as shown in FIG. 2, is additionally provided with anelectrical contact float 11 that is electrically connected by a cable 12to a signal and control box 13 that is seen in more detail in FIG. 3,this box being provided to be arranged in proximity to the end of thefilling conduit 3 that is closed by the tank cap 6.

It is understood that with such an arrangement, the container 8 beginsto fill with gas oil when the tank 2 is already full, and the float 11is provided to generate a signal when the level reached in saidcontainer 8 corresponds, for example, to the line indicated in dottedlines in said FIG. 2.

In the embodiment shown, the non-biased float closes an electricalcircuit that opens when said float is lifted, which creates the signal.

As a result, the proper functioning is automatically verified since theelectrical circuit is open only when gas oil is present, or when thefloat is incorrectly positioned (due, for example, to not returning toits initial position).

In FIG. 3, one can see an electrical diagram of the signal and controlbox 13, this box being therefore connected to the float 11 through aconnection 14 that is here connected to a feed battery or batteries 15,on the one hand, and to a relay 16, on the other hand.

The relay 16 is controlled by a breaker switch 17, and it is connectedto visual signals 18 and 19 through resistors 20 and 21, respectively,and additionally here to a buzzer 22.

As a result, by acting on the breaker 17, one controls the float 11, andthe visual signal 18 lights up (for example, in green).

When the float 11 is biased, i.e., when the tank 2 is full, the gas oilrises in the container 8 through the conduit portion 4 a until it causesthe float 11 to lift.

As mentioned previously, the lifting of the float 11 causes the openingof its electrical circuit, which then causes the tipping of the relay 16and, consequently, the lighting of the visual signal 19 (for example, inred), as well as the activating here of the buzzer 22 indicating thatthe tank 2 is full, while the visual signal 18 turns off.

One then has at least time upon complete filling of the container 8 tostop pouring the gas oil.

In addition to the advantages already mentioned, it is understood that adevice according to the invention has an ease of assembly that is quiteremarkable and that requires no special adaptation of existing tanks,since it suffices to insert it, as described, into the already existingair intake conduit that connects the tank to the vent in the boat hull.

However, it is also obvious that this application to boat tanks is notthe only one. In addition to tanks for boilers, as already mentionedhereinabove, other tanks, such as tanks for trucks or motors, forexample, can also be equipped with devices according to the invention.

1-4. (canceled)
 5. A system for indicating when a tank is full, thesystem comprising: a signal and control box; a container connected tothe tank; the container comprising a base, a float, an upper portion,and a lower portion; an orifice arranged at the upper portion of thecontainer; the float comprising an electrical contact connected to thesignal and control box; the base of the container being arranged one ofabove a maximum filling level of the tank and substantially at the samelevel as the maximum filling level of the tank; and a communicationconduit connected to the base of the container and in proximity to anupper portion of the tank, wherein the system generates at least onewarning signal when the tank is completely filled and the container ispartially filled through the communication conduit.
 6. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the signal and control box is arranged in proximity toan orifice of a filling conduit coupled to the tank.
 7. The system ofclaim 5, wherein the float is arranged within the container.
 8. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the float is arranged at a lower portion ofthe container.
 9. The system of claim 5, wherein the electrical contactof the float closes an electrical circuit when the float is not biasedand opens an electrical circuit as soon as the float is lifted.
 10. Thesystem of claim 5, wherein the float is movable between a first positionwherein the electrical contact of the float closes an electrical circuitto a second position wherein the float opens an electrical circuit. 11.The system of claim 5, further comprising an air intake conduit.
 12. Thesystem of claim 11, wherein the container is arranged between the airintake conduit and the communication conduit.
 13. The system of claim11, wherein the container is connected to each of the air intake conduitand the communication conduit.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein theair intake conduit is connected to the upper portion of the container.15. The system of claim 11, wherein the air intake conduit is connectedto the orifice of the container.
 16. The system of claim 5, wherein thesystem is adapted to be arranged on a boat.
 17. The system of claim 16,further comprising a vent connected to an air intake conduit, whereinthe air intake conduit is connected to the container and the vent isarranged on a hull of the boat.
 18. The system of claim 5, furthercomprising a vent connected to an air intake conduit, wherein the airintake conduit is connected to the container.
 19. A system whichgenerates at least one warning signal after a tank is completely filledand when a container is partially filled, the system comprising: asignal and control box; a float arranged within the container andcomprising an electrical contact connected to the signal and controlbox; a base portion of the container being arranged one of above amaximum filling level of the tank and substantially at the same level asa maximum filling level of the tank; and a conduit having one endconnected to the container and another end connected to the tank,wherein the container is at least partially filled through the conduitafter the tank is completely filled.
 20. The system of claim 19, whereinthe float is movable between a first position wherein the electricalcontact of the float closes an electrical circuit to a second positionwherein the float opens an electrical circuit.
 21. The system of claim20, further comprising an air intake conduit.
 22. The system of claim21, wherein the container is connected to each of the air intake conduitand the conduit.
 23. The system of claim 20, wherein the system isadapted to be arranged on a boat.
 24. The system of claim 23, furthercomprising a vent connected to an air intake conduit, wherein the airintake conduit is connected to the container and the vent is arranged ona hull of the boat.
 25. A system which generates at least one warningsignal when a tank is completely filled and a container, coupled to thetank, is at least partially filled, the system comprising: a signal andcontrol box; a float arranged within the container and comprising anelectrical contact connected to the signal and control box; a baseportion of the container being arranged one of above a maximum fillinglevel of the tank and substantially at the same level as a maximumfilling level of the tank; a first conduit having one end connected tothe container and another end connected to the tank; and a secondconduit having one end connected to the container and another endconnected to a vent.